Radio is instantaneous. In Liberia, the country’s first radio arrived along with the coming of the Firestone Rubber Plantation owned by the American Businessman Harvey Firestone. He initially used the radio to communicate with his workers. As time went by it informed and entertained wilder populations outside of the Firestone Plantation. Later, theEternal Love Winning Africa, ELWA Radio, came on air in 1954 and during the last 64 years has grew into a reputable Christian radio. In 1960, the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) was founded. As a corporation, the network was owned and operated by Rediffusion, a London- based business until 1968, when management passed to the Government of Liberia.

Since then different organizations established radio stations in Monrovia and throughout Liberia’s Civil War, radio was the only means of news for the devastated population.

Currently, there are more than 125 radios across Liberia with community radios accounting for over halve of the number.

This year’s World Radio Day is being celebrated in Liberia under the auspices of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) in collaboration with one of its main auxiliaries, the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL).

To commemorate the day, the Press Union will hold an indoor event at its Headquarters in Monrovia to specifically honor the role of radio in sports development in Liberia. There will be a panel discussion which will present the importance of Radio and Sports to a select audience made of sportsmen, women and journalists.

Radio has been very pivotal in promoting sports in Liberia. It has also express the tenets engrained in true sportsmanship which are fair play, teamwork and equality in sports as espoused this year by UNESCO. Some of the legendary commentators year after year produced by radio for sports will be on hand for event.

Before then, Sports Reporters will create sports for peace segments on their radio shows/presentations. Create a feature story/ radio documentary that highlights an effective sport for peace and development initiative in Liberia e.g. the National County Meet, impact on the sustenance of peace and its delay this time. All these shows will kick off on Friday, February 9, - Tuesday, 13 February 2018.

Sports Reporters are also required to play ‘Historic Sporting Moments’ and as well specials will be produced and aired with momentous sporting moments from archives as it focus. In this respect, listeners must be invited to share their favorite moments.

Join the celebration of World Radio Day on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 11:00am at the Headquarters of the Press Union of Liberia on 44 Clay Street in Monrovia.